“There you are.” A large man, taller even than Cadmus, with blue-black hair and brown eyes so dark they looked black, loomed dangerously close. “When I’m through with you, the Netharat will look like a pleasant diversion.”
I took a step back and unconsciously tapped my powers, lending Cadmus aid as I subtly drew off the large man’s negativity.
“Shit.” Cadmus placed himself between the man and me. “I thought I’d lost you for at least another few months.”
The stranger smiled, a menacing grin that had my heart racing. His teeth were bright, and the whites of his eyes seemed to glow with rage. My senses screamed Light Bringer, though I’d never before encountered one besides Darius and Cadmus.
“Ah, Cadmus—” I swallowed the rest of my words when the large man turned his gaze on me.
“Wonderful,” he growled. “Another Djinn.”
His attitude grated.
Despite my fear, I snapped, “Look, buddy, I don’t know who you are —”
“Ellie, wait,” Cadmus warned.
“— and I don’t much care. We’re in a public forum here, so take your bad mood and your hokey magic and go away. I’m not a Djinn,” I snarled, including Cadmus in my aggravation.
He at least had the sense to nod in agreement.
The stranger seemed to grow taller and stared incredulously from Cadmus to me. “Now you’ve got them fighting your battles for you, too?”
“I said —” I paused and took a step closer to Mr. Attitude. Cadmus tried to hold me back, but my anger gave me strength. “I said I’m not a Djinn, so stick that up your tight ass, you Light Bringing piece of —”
Cadmus interrupted in a loud voice, “Ellie, meet my uncle. Arim, my good friend and Jonas’ cousin, Ellie Markham.”
I froze and glanced back and forth between the men. Cadmus had many of Arim’s features, his strong nose and chin, the same almond-shaped eyes, the golden skin. Even his dark hair looked similar, styled the same way.
But whereas Cadmus looked charming, rogue-like, and clearly sensual, Arim possessed an air of cruel strength and rigidity that screamed “hands off.”
Arim, in turn, studied me with an intensity that made me squirm. He said what sounded like a curse in a lyrical, foreign language.
Then he bowed, shocking me speechless. “Forgive my rudeness, Ms. Markham. But I’ve had the Dark’s own luck in finding my nephew. Could I perchance ask you to find us a safe haven in which to speak?”
Cadmus snorted. “He wants to know where we can talk privately.”
“English is my first language, Cadmus.” I scowled at him before turning a polite smile to the Killer of Shadow, his supposed uncle. Uncle? Right. He’s maybe a year or two older than Cadmus…until you look into those ancient eyes of his. Scary, no doubt.
I swallowed and tried to pretend like the notorious Light Bringer sorcerer wasn’t freaking me out. “Sure, Arim. We can go to my place and talk.”
He smiled. The black eyes that had moments ago been flat and treacherous now looked deep and full of promise. His full lips quirked in a half-grin that made him look both cocky yet attractive. Seductive.
So like Cadmus.
“Take my hand, Ellie, and —”
“Hey. Back off, old man,” Cadmus growled, pulling me under his arm. “She’s with me.”
I didn’t understand. “But I need to show him where —”
“He’s not putting his hands on you.” Cadmus glowered, and I had to blink at the complete role reversal between Light Bringers. Now Cadmus seemed as remote as his uncle had been, while Arim screamed temptation.
“Very well, youngster,” Arim said with a straight face, though I would swear a smile teased the corner of his mouth.
Arim reached out to Cadmus, and everything blurred.
The next thing I heard were loud voices, a doorbell buzzer, and my father’s startled, “What the fuck are you two doing with my daughter?”
